A close, textural watercolor study of the neon lettering from the Rapid River Motel, focusing on the layered glass tubes and metal fasteners that once lit the night. Tight framing and saturated reds emphasize the craftsmanship and wear of roadside signage, preserving a fragment of mid-century travel culture in northern Michigan.
Original painting- 10" x 10" Arches Cold Press watercolor paper. Mixed media- watercolor, gouache, and pen.
Reproduction- 8" x 8" Premium Hot Press paper. Limited run of 100.
No Vacancy won Best Watercolor at the 48th Elkhart Juried Regional at Midwest Museum of American Art, Elkhart, Indiana on October 10, 2026.
